a subtle sort of people, that will know every thing, and give a quick and sure information."

"Well," quoth Sancho, "if my Lady Dulcinea del Toboso be enchanted, it is the worse for her: What have I to do to quarrel with all my master's enemies? They can't be few for aught I see, and they are plaguy fellows to deal withal. Thus much I dare say, she I saw was a country-wench; a country-wench I took her to be, and a country-wench I left her. Now if that same dowdy was Dulcinea in good earnest, how can I help it? I ought not to be called to an account for it. No, let the saddle be set upon the right horse, or we shall ne'er have done. Sancho told me this, cries one, Sancho told me that, cries t'other: Sancho o' this side, Sancho o' that side; Sancho did this, and Sancho did that; as if Sancho were I don't know who, and not the same Sancho that goes already far and near through the world in books, as Samson Carrasco tells me, and he is no less than a bachelor of arts at Salamanca varsity; and such folks as he can't tell a lie, unless they be so disposed, or it stands them in good stead. So let nobody meddle or make, nor offer to pick a quarrel with me about the matter, since I am a man of reputation; and as my master says, a good name is better than riches. Clap me but into this same government* once, and you shall see wonders. He that has been a good servant, will make a good master; a trusty squire will make a rare governor I will warrant you." "Sancho speaks like an oracle,"

* In the original encaxen me esse govierno, i. e. case me but in this same government.

said the duchess; "every thing he says is a sentence like those of Cato, or at least the very marrow of Michael Verino: * Florentibus occidit annis; that is, he died in his spring: In short, to speak after his way, under a bad cloak look for a good drinker."

"Faith and troth, Madam Duchess," quoth Sancho, "I never drank out of malice in my born days; for thirst perhaps I may; for I have not a bit of hypocrisy in me. I drink when I have occasion, and sometimes when I have no occasion: I am no proud man, d'ye see, and when the liquor is offered me I whip it off, that they may not take me for a churl or a sneaksby, or think I don't understand myself nor good manners; for when a friend or a good-fellow drinks and puts the glass to one, who can be so hardhearted as to refuse to pledge him, when it costs nothing but to open one's mouth? However, I commonly look before I leap, and take no more than needs must. And truly there's no fear that we poor squires to knights-errant should be great trespassers that way. Alackaday! mere element must be our daily beverage,- ditch-water, for want of better,—in woods and deserts, on rocks and mountains, without lighting on the blessing of one merciful drop of wine, though you would give one of your eyes for a single gulp."

"I believe it, Sancho," said the duchess; "but now it grows late, and therefore go and take some rest; after that we'll have a longer conversation, and will take measures about clapping you suddenly

*See Notes.

into this same government, as you are pleased to word it." Sancho kissed the duchess's hand once more, and begged her worship's grace that special care might be taken of his Dapple, for that he was the light of his eyes. "What is that Dapple?" asked the duchess. "My beast, an't like your honor," answered Sancho; "my ass I would say, saving your presence; but because I won't call him ass, which is so common a name among men, I call him Dapple. It is the very same beast I would have given charge of to that same gentlewoman when I came first to this castle; but her back was up presently, and she flew out as I had called her ugly-face, old witch, and what not. However, I'll be judged by any one, whether such-like sober grave bodies as she and other duennas are, be not fitter to look after asses, than to sit with a prim countenance to grace a fine state-room? Passion of my heart! what a deadly grudge a certain gentleman of our town, that shall be nameless, had to these creatures! I mean these old waiting gentlewomen." "Some filthy clown I dare engage,” said Donna Rodriguez the duenna; "had he been a gentleman, or a person of good breeding, he would have praised them up to the skies." "Well," said the duchess, "let, us have no more of that; let Donna Rodriguez hold her tongue, and Signior Sancho Panza go to his repose, and leave me to take care of his Dapple's good entertainment; for since I find him to be one of Sancho's movables, I will place him in my esteem above the apple of my eye." "Place him in the stable, my good lady," replied Sancho," that is as much as he deserves; neither he nor I are wor

thy of being placed a minute of an hour where you said. Odsbods! I'd sooner be stuck in the guts with a butcher's knife, than you should be served so; I am better bred than that comes to; for though my lord and master has taught me, that in point of havior one ought rather to overdo than underdo, yet when the case lies about an ass and the ball of one's eye, it is best to think twice, and go warily about the matter." "Well," said the duchess," your ass may go with you to the government, and there you may feed him, and pamper him, and make as much of him as you please." "Adad! my lady," quoth Sancho, "don't let your worship think this will be such a strange matter neither. I have seen more asses than one go to a government before now; and if mine goes too, it will be no new thing e'trow."

Sancho's words again set the duchess a-laughing; and so sending him to take his rest, she went to the duke, and gave him an account of the pleasant discourse between her and the squire. After this they resolved to have some notable contrivance to make sport with Don Quixote, and of such a romantic cast as should humor his knight-errantry. And so successful they were in their management of that interlude, that it may well be thought one of the best adventures in this famous history.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

THE

CONTAINING WAYS AND MEANS FOR DISENCHANTING PEERLESS DULCINEA DEL TOBOSO, BEING ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS ADVENTURES IN THE WHOLE BOOK.

THE duke and duchess were extremely diverted with the humors of their guests. Resolving, therefore, to improve their sport, by carrying on some pleasant design, that might bear the appearance of an adventure, they took the hint from Don Quixote's account of Montesinos' cave, as a subject from which they might raise an extraordinary entertainment; the rather, since, to the duchess's amazement, Sancho's simplicity was so great, as to believe that Dulcinea del Toboso was really enchanted, though he himself had been the first contriver of the story, and her only enchanter.

Accordingly, having given directions to their servants that nothing might be wanting, and proposed a day for hunting the wild boar, in five or six days they were ready to set out, with a train of huntsmen and other attendants not unbecoming the greatest prince. They presented Don Quixote with a hunting suit, but he refused it, alleging it superfluous, since he was, in a short time, to return to the hard exercise of arms, and could carry no sumpters nor wardrobes along with him; but Sancho readily accepted one of fine green cloth, with design to sell it the first opportunity.

The day prefixed being come, Don Quixote